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Have tried various ways to migrate my old TB account to a new computer without success

  • 4 replies
  • 1 has this problem
  • 2 views
  • Last reply by wls1

wls1
wls1
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Have tried the copy-paste-copy mentioned in a suggestion. I have also tried copying the program folder from the old to the new machine as well as copying the old profile folder to the new machine (in the roaming folder). Running the help>troubleshooting routine and opening the profile folder from there shows that TB is pointing at the data I want it to point to, but it does not restore my inbox and the other mail boxes such as sent, trash and a few others. My profile shows a 141MB file "global-messages-db.sqlite" that actually contains my old folders -- I can see my recent emails by opening it in Notepad --, but it is not accessed by TB. Strangely enough, it does recognize my address book. Any help would be appreciated.

Wayne

Have tried the copy-paste-copy mentioned in a suggestion. I have also tried copying the program folder from the old to the new machine as well as copying the old profile folder to the new machine (in the roaming folder). Running the help>troubleshooting routine and opening the profile folder from there shows that TB is pointing at the data I want it to point to, but it does not restore my inbox and the other mail boxes such as sent, trash and a few others. My profile shows a 141MB file "global-messages-db.sqlite" that actually contains my old folders -- I can see my recent emails by opening it in Notepad --, but it is not accessed by TB. Strangely enough, it does recognize my address book. Any help would be appreciated. Wayne

Chosen solution

Thanks for the clarification about the sqlite file. In the absence of a proper profile I did find it useful for retrieving some serial numbers and registration codes, as I had stored them in a Local Folders/Storage box.

I've looked at the video you mentioned, and yes, I had done what was prescribed. My Local Folders were recognized by TB, but none of my more recent data showed up in my new/old Inbox.

Unless there is some hidden folder where my old email data had been stored somewhere along the line, I am forced to conclude that my image program, Macrium Reflect, had not copied the contents of the relevant folders when I was imaging my drive. I have two recent images, and neither of them shows the contents of the Inbox, etc.

Apparently all Reflect could obtain from the original folders was the default size value of one or two K. It is likely that TB was running while I was imaging, but Reflect never gave me an error message of any kind.

Thanks for your help! Wayne

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All Replies (4)

JohannHan
JohannHan
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Did backup your old computer?

wls1
wls1 Question owner
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I made a Macrium Reflect image of the C drive; I also have the old hard drive available. I have tried copying both from the image and the old drive.

Matt
Matt
  • Moderator
  • Top 10 Contributor
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most copy failures I have seen have been the result of the information either being copies one folder to low, so the old profile data is located within the new profile or one or more folders too high.

There are also those that changed the location (in account settings) where the data is stored and then try and apply one of the generic solutions that do not apply. If that is the case no one but you knows what you changed the storage location to.

The sqlite file you have opened is a database files used to power Thunderbird search for you mail. IT IS NOT YOUR MAIL.

There is a you tube video in this article that makes it about as simple as it is possible to make copying the data. https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/moving-thunderbird-data-to-a-new-computer

However, I have my own ideas on simple and think this might help you get rid of anything that is in the incorrect location. (it will get rid of everything but the program)

on your new computer Windows key +R type %appdata% locate the Thunderbird folder and delete it. now past in the information from your old install. This should recreate the Thunderbird folder. Now start Thunderbird.

wls1
wls1 Question owner
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Chosen Solution

Thanks for the clarification about the sqlite file. In the absence of a proper profile I did find it useful for retrieving some serial numbers and registration codes, as I had stored them in a Local Folders/Storage box.

I've looked at the video you mentioned, and yes, I had done what was prescribed. My Local Folders were recognized by TB, but none of my more recent data showed up in my new/old Inbox.

Unless there is some hidden folder where my old email data had been stored somewhere along the line, I am forced to conclude that my image program, Macrium Reflect, had not copied the contents of the relevant folders when I was imaging my drive. I have two recent images, and neither of them shows the contents of the Inbox, etc.

Apparently all Reflect could obtain from the original folders was the default size value of one or two K. It is likely that TB was running while I was imaging, but Reflect never gave me an error message of any kind.

Thanks for your help! Wayne